Last week (episode 12), John took the fall. The series of events were evident. I knew it would happen. John’s playing style was great but his strategies were all over the place. It seems like he needed to pause for a while and rearrange his plans in the correct positions.

Jeff Probst wrote a lengthy blog post about this episode and he was totally right. John committed three HUGE mistakes:

1) ” John made was in making a deal with the one guy you simply cannot trust – Russell. Russell is nothing if not consistent and he is consistently untrustworthy.”

2) “Russell used John like a mercenary. By convincing John to switch sides, he got what he needed which was another Galu member voted out.”

3) “The biggest moment of the auction was John deciding to not share the apple pie with the rest of the tribe…

Whenever you are given a selfish vs. selfless choice, you ALWAYS choose the selfless option. Always, always, always. Survivor is a social game. John could have used that pie to buy a lot of good will from a lot of people…”

Perhaps, John already knew he was going to Ponderosa that night. Whatever happens, either he would win the immunity or not, everybody would still gun for him.

In some cases, it’s a nice move for John to not share his pie to anyone. That was a selfish game, yes, but he went home not really in an empty stomach. Haha.

Jaison on the Rise

One of the stand-out character in this episode twelve was Jaison. His strategy was growing. It was nearly like he was not only relying on Russel’s plot. When Jaison bought that “advantage clue” during the auction challenge, he started turning the tables on his side.

And that paid off. Jaison outlasted Dave during the immunity “don’t-let-the-rope-slip” challenge.

“I was so happy to see the advantage pay off for Jaison. Not because I’m rooting for him but because I respect big moves. Spending all of his money for one advantage was a big move.” Jeff Probst wrote.

All Too Easy for Russel!

Episode 13 was without any doubt the best episode to date, next to the MERGE where Erik was blindsided.

As expected, Evil Russel’s social game was still on. Evil Russel was not stopping. Evil Russel, the brilliant strategist. Evil Russel was invincible. All things were very easy for Evil Russel. If you put it in tennis terminologies, Evil Russel was like the greatest all-court player to play SURVIVOR and luckily, that made this season even more exciting.

Russel was in a rough position when he played his first immunity during the merge. He was paranoid that time and that was understandable. However, Russel went back on track and tried his very best to correct his errors the next episode and the next and the next.

SURVIVOR SAMOA is all bout Russel although he can’t be in the finals. No matter how wicked his plans are, this millionaire plays a strategic social and competitive game everybody must look up to.

I wonder, is there anyone out there who can stop Russel? After this episode, there are only six of them remaining (Mick, Jaison, Natali, Shambo, Brett and Russel). Anyone?

Brett, The Only Remaining Galu in Aiga

I thought Shambo would win this week’s “bowling” Immunity Challenge. She already got the fire, the drive and the experience to hit those pins unexpectedly, Shambo came short in the final round and for this, Jaison won immunity again.

The Foa Foa Four + Shambo ousted Dave. That was predictable. I expected it.

However, the episode was not yet finished.

There’s still an Immunity Challenge. As what Jeff Probst said: “Nobody ever said all challenges would be created equal. If there is one consistent element of Survivor challenges it’s that they’re typically not things you can practice at home. When’s the last time anybody…. had to jump on a board to launch a bag into a basket 12 feet in the air.”

Brett jumped his way to win the Immunity Challenge. That was his first and his way of answering all the “Brett Who?” comments circulating around the web. Brett for the win, anyone?

For Monica, she could not anymore flirt to survive another day.

Monica’s strategy to piss Russel off did not do anything good. It was the biggest mistake on her part and I was wondering why she did it.

I was sure there still a way to escape the cut but as I see it, Monica somehow chose to waste her chances.

For that, Brett was the only remaining Galu in Aiga. Shambo is now a part of Foa Foa. But don’t lose hope, Brett has still his chances. Brett can survive. He only needs to hit the right buttons to survive and be with the right people in Aiga (perhaps, with Mick, Jaison or Natalie).